Electric rotary flue-cleaner



F. GARDNER. ELECTRIC ROTARY PLUE CLEANER.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 7, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FULTON GARDNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC ROTARY FLU E-CLEAN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,380, dated November 7, 1893.

Application filed February 23, 1893. Serial No. 463,509. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FULTON GARDNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Flue-Cleaning, of which the following is a specification.

It has heretofore been customary to clean flues in various ways, for instance by pushing some form of instrument through the fine wherebythe sootwas scraped away and shoved out. Steam has also been used, vacuum pumps, &c. Objections to all of these methods have been found, and the object of my invention is to avoid them; which I accomplish by employing a rotary flue cleaner, operated by an electric motor.

My invention furthermore relates to various improvements in apparatus for carrying out the above method, and it consists in the apparatus hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a plan View of my improved flue cleaner. Fig. 2, is a central Vertical section of the rotary brush, commutator, handle, and electric circuits.

In constructing my improved apparatus, I first make a cylindrical shell or case A of any dimensions suitable to enable it to inclose the various parts of the motor, and of the size adapted to enter the tubular flues of boilers. This case has two caps, a, so constructed, that they inclose the motor, and at the same time form bearings for the armature of the motor. I am well aware that tubular electric motors are not new, and as that particular form of motor forms no part of my invention it requires no further description.

B, in Fig. 2, is an inner case or lining of as bestus or other non-heat conducting material. The fines of boilers when in use are intensely hot, and this protection is required to preserve the insulation on the wires and other parts of the motor, and also to guard against expansion and contraction, which would prove detrimental to the running parts of the motor.

0 in Figs. 1, and 2, represents a spiral formed, metallic brush of a diameter greater than the case of the motor, and it is attached in any suitable manner to the armature or revolving parts of the motor. It may be of any length, but must be made of a size adapted to enter the flues of boilers within which it is intended to operate.

D, in Figs. 1, and 2, is a hollow handle. It may be made of iron pipe or wood, and of any length that will permit the operator to work at a convenient distance from the boiler, and at the same time, insert the motor and brush in the flue, and pass it from one end of the flue to the other end in the same manner as is customary with many of the old devices. One end of the handle is attached to the cap a, by screw threads, or other means. It is through the means of this handle that the field, or non-revolving partsof the motor are held from revolving.

E, in Figs. 1, and 2, is an electric circuit extending from binding posts e, through the handle and cap a, to the brushes of the motor.

E in Fig. 1, is a continuation of the electric circuit from the binding posts 6, to a lamp socket, a dynamo or other source of electric energy.

The device having been constructed as hereinbefore described, my method is carried out as follows: The fireman or person attending the boiler, takes hold of the handle of the improved flue cleaner, inserts the brush and motor parts in the flue; the electric current is turned on, which instantly causes the armature of the motor to revolve. As the cleaning brush is connected to the shaft of the armature, it will revolve with the armature at a hi h rate of speed, say twelve hundred to sixteen hundred revolutions per minute. The revolving brush, coming in contact with the line, the soot is displaced. Owing to the fan like or spiral formation of the brush, the displaced soot, or carbon is blown outby a strong current of air, caused by the rotating spiral brush. While the brush is thus revolving, the operator quickly passes it through, and repeats the process in each fine, until the tubes of the boiler are perfectly cleaned. By this means, I am enabledto combine a blower and a revolving brush, which may be operated in any part of a flue, and may be easily, and cheaply operated, especially at plants where electricity is employed or generated.

IVhile I have thus described more or less precise forms, I do not intend to limit myself thereto, since I contemplate changes in form, and the substitution of equivalent members as may be desirable or necessary. This I can do without departing from the gist of my invention, which consists in rotatingacombined brush and blower in boiler and other lines for the purpose of cleaning them of soot, ashes, &c.

I claim 1. The combination of an electric motor inclosed in a tube, a long handle attached to the tube, a brush rotated by the motor, and electric circuits extending from a source of electric energy through the handle to the motor whereby the brush is rotated within a flue.

2. The combination of a metallic spiral or fan-like-blower brush attached to the armature of an electric motor, and rotating with the armature; said motor being inclosed in a metallic case, and also inclosed in an inner case of asbestos or other non-heat conducting material: said motor and brush being of adiametcr to enter and pass through the Flues of boilers substantially as described.

3. The combination of a motor, abrush, and a hollow handle inclosing an electric circuit, leading from a source of electric energy to the motor, while operating within tubular flues.

FULTON GARDNER.

Witnesses:

Mrs. A. M. DU PLANTY, LUCY F. l-IINE. 

